Wednesday’s Dodger game against the Padres was an exciting one with so many runs on both sides. Cody Bellinger is back in the lineup and hit a huge home run after replacing Gavin Lux, who sustained a neck stinger from crashing into the wall while making a running catch. There’s never been a better team in the history of the wildcard than the Dodgers in a one-game playoff, and their starting pitching staff will be hard to beat. But the team to watch out for is the Atlanta Braves. In light of the one-game wildcard game, Fred and Art wonder if a more balanced playing schedule would reveal which teams truly are the best, rather than the current practice of 19 intradivisional games and only seven against other divisions?

Corbin Burnes of the Milwaukee Brewers and Julio Urias of the Dodgers are two of the top pitchers being considered for the Cy Young Award in the National League. Is either one the likely winner or should it be someone else entirely?

In Covid sports news, the vaccination rates are up to 90% in the NFL and NBA, with even higher rates in the MLB, but it seems that compliance rules are all over the board for different cities and teams. Three cities have said that if their players aren’t vaccinated, they can’t play. How long until others follow suit?

It’s a big football weekend, with impressive matchups in the arenas. The Rams, with QB Matt Stafford rumored to be the next MVP, are slightly favored against the Cardinals, the Raiders are playing the Chargers, and the Seahawks are a 3-point underdog vs the 49ers. UCLA is finally on a local network against ASU with great QBs on both teams. Will the game be a close one or come down to who has the last possession of the ball?

There’s so much to look forward to in sports right now – it’s a great time to be a fan.

Email Fred and Art with questions and comments at sportsfred@aol.com